CIVIC bosses will try to close down a controversial lap dancing club which has already had its booze licence revoked.

Durham County Councillors are to be asked to ban lap dancing from Red Velvet in Front Street, Consett, when they meet next week.

Red Velvet, the only lap dancing club in the county, was the subject of a drugs raid last month when police claim staff and dancers were seen selling cocaine to customers.

House mother Dolce Byron and former manager David Bartley are now on police bail pending further inquiries while two dancers were cautioned following the December 14 raid.

Last week, Durham County Council’s licensing sub-committee revoked Red Velvet’s drinks licence after a request by police licensing officer Sgt Tim Robson, who described the “gentlemen’s club” above Captain Cod fish and chip shop as “rundown, dirty, seedy premises,” claiming he saw blood on the ceiling, frayed carpets, and curtains and seats that were torn and ripped.

Red Velvet opened despite protests from local church groups, schools, councillors and residents in 2007.

Following a change of law, owner Sukhdev ‘Sonny’ Gill, from Darras Hall, Ponteland, had to apply for a Sexual Entertainment Venue (SEV) licence last year, which the licensing panel granted him despite objections from residents, church groups, and North West Durham MP Pat Glass.

Mrs Glass described the panel’s decision as “appalling” after the six-hour hearing. On Tuesday next week the county council’s General Licensing and Registration sub-committee will meet at Chester-le-Street Civic Centre to decide whether to revoke the venue’s SEV licence which permits it to stage lap dancing, in the wake of the police raid.

Members can either decide to take no action or can revoke the licence. The panel could revoke the licence on “discretionary” grounds, but Mr Gill would then be able to appeal against the decision.

Mr Gill admitted he had “taken his eye off the ball” by entrusting Mr Bartley, who he has since sacked, to run the club. He said he had applied to become the Designated Premise Supervisor (DPS) himself and had also hired a new security company to work on the door of Red Velvet and other bars he owns in Consett.

Although his drinks licence was revoked last week, Mr Gill may still be able to trade pending an appeal.

Sgt Robson said Mr Gill had 21 days in which to lodge an appeal, which would then be heard by magistrates later in the year. He would then be able to continue to serve alcohol pending any appeal.